What is the average cost of study at RWTH Aachen?

There are no tuition fees at RWTH Aachen, with the exception of the programs from RWTH Academy. However each student, including exchange students, must pay a student body and social contribution fee, which include the cost of the Semester Ticket. The exact amount varies each year, but on average it is about 285 Euros per semester. The entire cost of studies and life in Aachen, including rent, insurance, livelihood, etc, are on average at least 950 Euros per month or 11,400 Euros per year.

Please note that all international applicants who are not legally equivalent to German citizens, such as non-EU students, must complete a TestAS aptitude test before applying to RWTH. The test is offered four times a year only, so please make sure to register for the test in time! For further information please visit the TestAS website.

As a prospective international student, can I apply directly to RWTH Aachen with my secondary school certificate?

You first need to check and see if your secondary school certificate is equal to the German Abitur, which would grant you direct university access. You can use the website anabin, where you can look for your secondary degree under "Schulabschlüsse mit Hochschulzugang." If your secondary school certificate does not grant you direct access to a German university, you must either first attend a Studienkolleg, a preparatory college, in Germany or have successfully studied for one to three years in your home country.

You can find detailed information about the application process and contact information for some of the preparatory colleges in Germany on the website Studienkollegs. If you have additional questions about this topic, please contact the preparatory college of your choosing.

What language skills do I need for Bachelor’s or Master’s studies as an international student?

Please note that all Bachelor courses of study at RWTH Aachen are taught in German. For this reason you must provide documentation of the necessary German skills. You usually have to provide proof of your language skills when it is time for you to enroll. You can therefore first apply without submitting the valid language certificate. You will however be refused the opportunity to enroll if you cannot provide proof of the required skills during the usual enrollment period. Please note that there are some Master courses for which both English and German language certificates are required! You can read which certificates are accepted on the page Language Skills for Bachelor, Staatsexamen and Master.

How can I learn German at RWTH?

The RWTH Language Center offers German courses that prepare you for studies. Please refer to the Language Center website for current information about courses and the registration process. Under certain conditions participants in the German courses can be enrolled at RWTH Aachen while taking the German course. You can find additional information on the page Application German Language Course.

How do I apply for Master’s studies as an international student?

Please check the webpages for your chosen course(s) of study carefully to find out if you need to submit any additional documents required by the Examination Board of your Master's course of study (for example Graduate Record of Examination (GRE) result, TestAS) have to be submitted in your application.

Where can I have my documents/certificates translated?

If your documents, certificates, etc. are not in English or German, you must have them translated by a sworn translator in your home country or in Germany. You can find a list of sworn translators in Germany and their contact information in the Translator and Interpretor Database.

Questions About Studies and Life in Aachen

Where can I live in Aachen? Are there student dorms?

Start your apartment search as early as possible. The housing market in Aachen is fairly tight due to the high number of students in Aachen. Unfortunately, your acceptance letter does not include a housing offer and does not guarantee you a room in the student dorms.

Do I have to officially register and deregister with the city administration/Bürgerservice?

You must officially register with the city administration/Bürgerservice within 14 days after your arrival, even if you do not yet have a permanent place to live. You can find all of the necessary information about registration in our City Registration and Deregistration Information Sheet.

Do I need German health insurance?

Proof of valid health insurance is mandatory to enroll at RWTH Aachen. You can either get German health insurance or, if you are completely insured in your home country, you can have a German health insurance company confirm that you are exempt from German health insurance.

What documents do I need to enroll as an international student?

A complete list of the documents required (for example proof of health insurance, language certificate, school transcripts, etc.) can be found on the admissions division’s webpage about Enrollment in Bachelor Studies and Enrollment for Master Studies for international students. The documents are also listed in your acceptance letter.

Where can I get more information about RWTHonline?

How do I get my BlueCard (student ID)

In order for your BlueCard to be issued, you must transfer the semester fee after enrolling, activate your IT services, and then upload a photo via your RWTH self-service account. After a few days you will receive an email and can then pick up the card from the BlueCard Service Point. You can also find detailed and up to date information on the BlueCard info page.

I have not received my Semester Ticket yet.

It can take one to two weeks to get your Semester Ticket at the beginning of your studies after transferring the semester fee. After one to two weeks please check to make sure that you entered the correct address in CAMPUS Office and contact the ASEAG Customer Service Center at Schumacherstraße 14, on the corner of Peterstraße, if you have not received the ticket.

When and how do I apply for a residence permit?

If you are not from an EU country (with the exception of Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway) and arrived in Germany on a student visa, you must apply for residence permit no later than one month before your visa’s date of expiration. The Immigration Office of the Aachen city region is responsible for this. You can find all the necessary information (contact information, documents, opening hours) in our Residence Permit Information Sheet and on the page Applying for and Extending Your Residence Permit. Please contact us if you have problems extending your permit or have a difficult case.

Sometimes the Immigration Office requires an academic progress certificate in order to extend the residence permit. You can find additional information about requesting this certificate as well as general information about right of residence on the page Residence Permit.

How do I study for an exam?

Have a look at this video series which might help you organize your study plan better.

What advising offices are available if I have questions/problems?

There are experts in advising offices for all problems and questions pertaining to studies or life in Aachen. These experts are happy to provide advice and assist you. We have collected the contact information of the most important offices in our Information Services Information Sheet. On the portal page, you will find all advice centers at RWTH. If you do not know who the appropriate contact is, ask the International Office’s Info Service Center.

Can I work while studying and how do I find a job?

Each student can work up to 19 hours per week without a job permit during the semester. We have collected additional information about the legalities as well as useful tips for searching for a job in our Job Information Sheet.

What can I do in my free time?

A number of international student organizations and initiatives ensure for colorful and intercultural recreational offers. You can find a current list of the organizations and their contact information on the page Extracurricular and Leisure Activities.

The Humboldt-House as a meeting place for the international and local university members offers rooms for events, seminars, and exhibitions on different topics.

The University Sports Center offers a wide range of sport courses and regularly organizes events and exhibitions on different topics.

Certificates about your current student status (certificates of enrollment/termination of studies certificate) can be requested from the Registrar’s Office. If you don’t need an official signature, you can print them out yourself from CampusOffice.

If your embassy requires a certificate about the estimated cost of study, please contact the International Office’s Info Service Center.

I need a notarization or apostille.

I feel I am being treated unfairly or discriminated against.

Fairness, equal treatment, and appreciation for others are of great importance to RWTH Aachen. The RWTH Equal Opportunities Office is available to answer any questions about these topics. Info flyers on topics such as antidiscrimination, equal treatment, sexual harassment, bullying, and much more are available to download from the Equal Opportunities Office website. An official complaint office will take your written complaint and help find a solution.

How can I terminate my enrollment?

Questions About A Stay Abroad

How do I organize a stay abroad?

The first step we highly recommend taking is to attend a country- or topic-specific or general group advising session. You can find the current dates on the event page and on our Facebook page. The general course of events and the application process are explained and the different funding options are presented. The advisor can also answer your specific questions.

Internships and research stays abroad are funded by different scholarship programs. You can find an initial overview of programs and well as current offers here.

In what countries and at what universities can I spend a semester abroad?

On the following pages you can find current exchange opportunities and the partner universities of your faculty worldwide as well as the exchange opportunities offered as part of the Erasmus+ programs. Experience reports from students are available in the MoveOn online database. It also offers information about the contact person in the faculties and links to the partner universities.

In case you have questions about specific countries, forms of stay abroad or scholarship programmes, we recommend contacting the respective advisor in Division 2.3 – Mobility.

If you have questions about course content and getting credit for your academic performance abroad, we recommend contacting the responsible study abroad coordinator in your faculty. The International Office cannot provide any assistance on this topic.